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"Live/Dead" was edited down from a run of shows the Dead did at the Fillimore West in February 1969.If you're prepared to spend a fortune,you can get the entire run of shows on a 10 CD release.If you're of more modest means,this is the one for you (and me).In short,fantastic.Virtually all of "Live/Dead",tho' not the versions on the album,plus "Alligator","Mountains of the Moon","That's It For the Other One",more or less complete shows from when the Dead Mk.1(with Pigpen)were at the height (no pun intended) of their abilities.A wonderful look back into hippiedom,if you can remember that far back,or one of the most inventive and adventurous slices of acid rock you're ever likely to hear.Buy,listen and be enchanted.You may even want to ststrt taking LSD again if you're of a certain age!!

This triple-CD set is a selection from the limited-release 10-CD complete recordings of the Grateful Dead's four gigs at the Fillmore West on 27-28 February and 1-2 March 1969, from which the band's first live album, Live/Dead, was also taken.

What we have here is Live/Dead, Part Two. The numbers featured on that album are played here as well. I slightly prefer the version of 'Dark Star' on Live Dead, not that the one here is anything but good; conversely, I prefer the 'The Eleven' featured here, if again only by a small degree. I also slightly prefer the Live/Dead version of Gary Davis' mournful blues 'Death Don't Have No Mercy'. That's just me; other listeners will have their own preferences. The 'Lovelight' here stands alone, unlike the Live/Dead one, which charges out of 'The Eleven', and compares well with other renditions from this time that I have heard.

There are plenty of other good numbers that featured in the band's repertoire at this time. The album kicks off with a solid 'Morning Dew', we also get Pigpen singing the blues with 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl' and 'I'm a King Bee', and some of the band's more recent numbers such as 'Doing That Rag' and 'Mountains of the Moon'.

The third CD starts with a hefty go at 'That's It For The Other One', and if you listen carefully at the very end, you'll just hear the opening of the Live/Dead 'Death Don't Have No Mercy'. Then we get an amazing 55-minute sequence kicking off from 'Alligator', with a lengthy jam and a thundering 'Caution', that has to be heard. Those familiar with Live/Dead will recognise 'Feedback' > 'And We Bid You Goodnight', but here it is in their original context following 'Caution', completing the sequence and indeed the gig.

If you liked Live/Dead, then you'll like this one too. This period of the Grateful Dead's 30-year career was one of this band's most impressive times, and this CD set, along with Live/Dead (and don't forget Dick's Picks Volumes 16 and 26) are evidence of just how good the band could be. There really wasn't anyone quite like the Grateful Dead.

I have been listening to this band ( on and off) for 42 years, saw the Dead twice, sat on the steps of 710 Ashbury ,been there, bought the T shirt. There are some really good reviews here already so I'll keep mine short. This album comes from the same era as "Live/Dead" ( arguably their best ever live album) and it's very well recorded/remastered.

I believe these are "out-takes", which I can well believe, as each of the tracks featured does have its flaws ( mainly in the vocals department! ) some of which are hilarious. But there's a sense of FUN pervading this album, and it captures the spirit of the dead's famous 'jams" very well. There's a track called - somewhat uninspiringly - "Jam" and it is a great monster of a thing, full of innovation and improvisation. And Lesh isn't using the spooky hollow tone we associate with his later work. He's using a real "in your face" , rumping, driving tone, so I 'm guessing this is the "modified Guild Starfire" but I could be wrong.

What you are hearing here is the massive 1960's amplification of the Grateful Dead on full throttle, in all its glory; the thunderous DIY cabinets rattling and howling with a life of their own. This is the sound system that pre-dated Owsley's "Wall of Sound". As such, it's a sound which will never be heard again so recordings from this era are historical documents I suppose.If you're particularly interested in Garcia's playing there are quite a few unusual licks on "The Other One" which I have never heard him play before, very "pedal steel" orientated.

What i also notice is how CLEAR Pigpen's organ is, much clearer than it seemed back then , which I take it is due to remastering. You can hear every note, and I have gained a new appreciation of Pig's contribution to the band. Unfortunately my windows are all broken and my love has become a toothless crone (!) But i must say it is very pleasant to walk the dog through the woods at this time of year, listening to this album on my MP3 player and picking the odd mushroom as I go. Very pleasant indeed......